Molly’s Favorite Things

Every year, Oprah does a show of her “Favorite Things.” From what I understand, tickets to this show are highly sought after, because she gives away all her favorite things to everyone in the audience. That is sort of the premise of this blog, only I’m much less interesting than Oprah, and I can’t give away all my favorite things to my blog readers, although I WISH I could. It’s the thought that counts, right? No. I don’t think so either. However, maybe these things will inspire you to make a change, or get a great idea. I trade ideas with my friends recommendations, so here are mine, for what little it’s worth:


Springhill Nursery: If you are a gardener like me, this, in my opinion is the best mail order nursery. Why? Because they have a lifetime guarantee on all their plants. I know, I’ve used it many times. Chances are, if you live up North where it’s freezing, you’re going to lose some plants, and Springhill will replace the plants you order from them, anytime, no questions asked! I’ve had plants die 3-4 years after I ordered them and I just pulled out my receipt, called Springhill and had either a replacement plant shipped right away, or my money refunded. Plus, they always have great coupons like, Buy $25, get $25 free. Visit www.springhillnursery.com


Swapstyle: Ok, this is my new “sister’s closet.” I just read about this one in a magazine. www.swapstyle.com is really a cool idea. It works sort of like eBay (which I also can not live without), but without any monetary transactions. Basically, you put pictures up on your page of stuff you want to get rid of (clothes, jewelry, bags, etc.) then if you find something you want of someone else’s you ask for a swap. If they like something on your page, you swap! You pay your shipping, they pay theirs. There are tokens you give each other which are like the eBay feedback ratings to keep people honest. So far I’ve swapped for a really nice pair of Ann Taylor Loft jeans and a DKNY sundress, among other things.


Make-up: A girl can’t live without her make-up. So. My favs: BareMinerals. Awesome, can’t say enough about it. I just switched over to BareMinerals and I am in love with it! It’s worth the initial price; just do it! L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara. Everyone who’s tried it loves it. Get the waterproof if you’re a crier like me! Maybelline Eyestudio eye shadow. They are a square container with a round duo of shadow. The complementing shades have a marbling effect, so it’s impossible to mess up your blending. At last! Perfect smoky eyes! I have about 6 different colors; I’m hooked.


Language of Hair: And while we’re on the subject of looking good, go see Amanda at Language of Hair on London Road. Seriously. She’s awesome. Love her to death! For those of you not in Duluth, bummer.

Wechter Guitars: I love my Wechter guitar. My friend had one, I played it, fell in love and immediately bought one too. For a girl with little hands, I was sold on the low action and the skinny neck. It's easy to play and has a gorgeous sound. And I got it in black. www.wechterguitars.com

Chester Creek Cafe/At Sarah’s Table: Again, for those of you not in Duluth, major bummer. My most favorite restaurant here in Duluth. On the corner of 19th Ave. E and 8th St. Organic and mostly local foods, they make the most amazing, good for you flavors. My current favorite is the Red Sea Fish Sandwich and their raspberry peach pie is out of this world! Anyone want to have lunch, I’m there!


Hannah Johnson Fabrics: Oh my! How did I miss this store for nearly 8 years!? I’m so glad my friends told me about this place and someone finally took me!!! My current favorite quilt store of all time. Located on Superior Street at 45th Ave. E.  She has very funky, modern fabrics, cool oilcloths, and tons of cute bag patterns. Check out her website at www.hannahjohnsonfabrics.com


The Food Network Panini Grill: After doing my research, I decided this was the best panini grill out there. I love paninis. Yum. This one is heavy duty, and has three interchangeable plates and lays flat so it can be a panini grill, a flat grill, a griddle and a waffle iron. And if you’re looking for good panini recipes, my sister got me 200 Best Panini Recipes by Tiffany Collins to go with it. My all time fav: A bagel, thinly sliced apples, bacon, cream cheese, brown sugar, and cheddar cheese. Oh my!


Giada de Laurentis Everyday Italian: All of Giada’s cookbooks are amazing. Her food is soooo good. And best of all, it’s not difficult to make. Usually most of the recipes are made with just a few simple ingredients and take 20 – 30 minutes. After making her marinara sauce several years ago, I’ve never used jarred sauce since.


Toyota Sienna: Of course, Oprah always ends by giving everyone, A NEW CAR!!! But, my Sienna isn’t new. The great thing about Siennas are that they keep their resale value better than most mini-vans. Which is also a bad thing if you are like us, and prefer to not make car payments. But, the other great thing about Siennas is that they are Toyota’s, which means they run forever, so once you scope out a good deal, you can do well with an older one. Open up the back of a Sienna (or Honda Odyssey) and you mini-van moms will be amazed by the cargo room. I love the captain’s chairs which keep my children separated and the split back seat I can fold down when I have oodles of groceries. But, in my opinion, the best thing about a Toyota? They pump the heat! And in Northern Minnesota, nothing beats a car that gets up to 80 degrees in 5 minutes when it’s –20 outside!

So, there’s my, not so complete, and very, very silly list. Feel free to add your own!

Crow For Breakfast

The other morning, I was planning a normal day. Get up. Get ready. Eat cereal. But, before I got really very far into my day I managed so very nicely to trip myself up. Open mouth, swallow foot whole. At that moment, I really didn’t feel like breakfast anymore. I just had this horrible feeling of nausea. Why in heaven’s name did I SAY that!?

The older I get, the better I get at thinking before I speak. Letting my words filter through my head and my heart and then just keep quiet. But, I’m not perfect by any means and sometimes, something so completely foolish just comes tripping off my tongue. I just want to either smack myself or let the earth open up and swallow me whole when that happens.

I know I’m not alone in this. Controlling our tongues is a universal problem.

James 3:8 says, “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of ^deadly poison.”

In fact, earlier in this chapter James says that, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”

Oh, how I long to be that person!

I’ve discovered, however, the best way to handle these moments is to immediately make it right with the person you’ve offended. This involves humbling yourself and asking for forgiveness, which is incredibly difficult sometimes, but the longer we put it off, the worse it gets.

So, this day, I realized, crow was on the menu for breakfast. Yuck. But, I plugged my nose and took a big enormous bite of that crow pie I had made for myself.

I resolved once again, with God’s help, to think before I speak and to let my words be words that bring healing and life. Sometimes, just being quiet is enough.

On the subject of being quiet, Proverbs 17:28 always makes me laugh:

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

I think Abraham Lincoln summed it up best with these words, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.”

The funny thing about this whole scenario was that the person I thought I had offended had no idea what I was talking about and thought the whole thing was hilarious!!! Nothing worse than crow pie when you didn’t even need to eat it! Oh well. I figured it was good practice and that God decided I needed to humble myself that day. I needed the reminder to make my words sweet always.

Crow is a dish best served warm. As soon as you know you’ve hurt someone, quickly go and make it right. The longer you wait, the more hurt, anger and resentment build up.

“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23,24

Crow tastes bitter on the tongue, but is pleasant to the stomach.

 

Through the Garden Gate - February

The ironic thing about looking through the garden gate this month is that I couldn’t actually go through my garden gate if I wanted to. Several feet of snow are mounded up in front of both gates. My raised beds are just slight elevations somewhere near the bottom of the garden, and my lilac bush is half buried.

My perennial beds are even worse. Because they are next to the sidewalk, we keep shoveling snow on top of them. Only the tops of a few tall bushes stick out of the snow right now that lines the pathway, past my knees. I wonder, every year about this time, will I ever see the blooms in my garden again? I’m getting a little tired of the same old color palate. Grey. White. Brown.

Here’s the deal though. Sometimes, something that seems bad, can actually be there for our protection. There have been a few years when the temperatures have been bitterly cold and the snow cover has been minimal. Those years, come spring, I discovered that I had lost nearly half of my plants. The most fragile and delicate perennials had frozen to death over the winter without the snow’s insulating cover. Who knew? Snow is warm!

The implications in my own life are obvious. I can not see the big picture of my life. There are so many times that I find myself in situations and circumstances that seem smotheringly painful. I wonder also if the joy-filled colors of spring in my life will ever break out again. Will I always feel like this? Grey. Brown. White.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 62:12 & 13:

“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.”

When I don’t understand the circumstances of life, I trust my life and my circumstances to the One who is in control of them. I am able to trust God with all of these things, with my very life, because I trust His character. When you know and trust God, you are able to trust Him with the small things and the big, hard things as well.

I know God is strong. I know God is loving. I know God is good. I know God is in control.

I don’t need to know the rest.

Just as the garden doesn’t need to understand the snow that blankets it, but trust the gardener to bring it the right amount of protection, water, mulch, sun and warmth, so I can trust the Master Gardener in my life to bring me the same. Sun, rain, snow, even storms.

I’m in good hands. Strong hands. Loving hands.